Fabric rack



Feb. 15, 1966 N. w. MIZELLE ETAL 3,235,066

FABRIC RACK Filed NOV. 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 28 IN VENTORS.

j Z NED WORTH MIZELLE CARTER TATE HOLBROOK, JR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb 1966 N. w. MlZELLE ETAL 39 3 FABRIC RACK Filed Nov. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR-S.

NED WORTH MIZELLE BY CARTER TATE HOLBROOK,JR.

A TTORNEYS,

United States Patent 3,235,066 FABRIC RACK Ned W. Mizelle, 902 Sedgewick Lane, and Carter T. Holbrook, Jr., 1007 Emery Road, both of High Point, N.C.

Filed Nov. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 323,044 11 Claims. (Cl. 206-51) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial Number 124,541, filed July 17, 1961, now abandoned, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This invention relates to supports or racks used in transporting and sorting fabrics such as plush, velvet, or other long pile material.

An object of this invention is to provide a fabric rack for storing and transporting long pile fabrics in such a manner that the fabric will require a minimum amount of space without crushing the fibers of the fabric.

A further object is to provide a fabric rack on which long pile fabric material can be wound for storage and transportation in such a manner that the convolutions of the fabric are spaced from each other to prevent crushing of the material.

Still another object is to provide a rack for long pile fabric on which the fabric can be wound with the convolutions of the fabric spaced from each other to prevent crushing and which rack can be returned to the package after a portion of the fabric is removed.

A further object is to provide a fabric rack which due to its simplicity and economical construction is expendable.

The foregoing objects are achieved by the provision of a rack having an elongate spacing rod and a pair of oppositely disposed frame members mounted on the end of the rod. The frame members are made up of a plurality, preferably four, of diagonally extending arm members joined together at one end by a sleeve or collar which embraces the spacing rod at its ends. Inwardly disposed hooks are formed on each arm member and the selvedge of the fabric is engaged by the hooks as it is wound around the rod to thus hold the convolutions of the material spaced from each other.

In one embodiment of the invention, the collar or sleeve formed at the junction of the arm members is formed with inwardly directed gripping tangs which are adapted to be embedded in the spacing rod to prevent slippage of the rod relative to the frame members.

In another embodiment of the invention, the spacing member is in the form of a hollow tube of circular cross section which has its ends forced into a tubular collar or sleeve of polygonal cross-section, the cross-section being preferably in the form of a twelve-sided polygon or dodecagon, to prevent relative rotation between the frame and spacing member. For preventing axial movement of the frame relative to the spacing tube, a plurality of tabs are formed on the collar and overlap the inner wall of the spacing tube adjacent its ends, and pointed barbs or tangs at the ends of the tabs are embedded in the inner wall of the tube.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fabric rack embodying one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of one end of the rack of FIG. 1 with the fabric mounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the frame member of the rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fabric rack embodying the invention in a different, preferred form;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the rack of FIG. 5 illustrating the relative configuration of the frame collar and spacing tube just prior to their being assembled together; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the final assembly of the frame on the spacing tubes.

Referring to the drawing, the fabric rack comprises an elongate spacing rod 10 having a pair of oppositely disposed end units or frames 12 mounted on the ends thereof. The material of the spacing rod 10 is wood and is preferably of square cross-section, and the frames 12 are of sheet metal material. Each of the frames 12 is made up of four frame members 14 which are joined together to form a tubular sleeve or collar 16. Each of the frame members 14 includes an arm portion 18, a sleeve or collar portion 20 which extends angularly from the end of the arm portion 18, and a tongue portion 22 which extends angularly from the collar portion 20.

A depression is formed in the metal to define a stiffening rib 24 which extends from the end of the tongue portion 22 throughout the length of the collar portion 20 and slightly beyond the juncture of the arm member 18 and the collar portion 20. Each tongue portion 22 overlays and is connected by means of spot-welds or rivets 26 to an end of the arm portion 18 of an adjacent frame member. The collar 16 thus takes the form of a square sleeve.

A stiffening flange 28 extends along the edge of the arm member 18 throughout the length thereof. A portion 29 of the stiffening flange 28 extends along the edge of the collar portion 20 but stops short of the end thereof in order to provide clearance for the stiffening flange of the adjacent frame member when the parts are assembled together. The portions 29 of stiffening flange 28 thereby form a means for abutting the end of rod 10 as shown in FIG. 2. V-shaped notches are cut into the collar portions 20 and the triangular piece of metal formed thereby is bent inwardly to form gripping tangs 32 which engage the rod 10 to prevent the frames from moving outwardly relative to rod 10. A series of hooks 38 is formed integrally on arm portion 18 along the edge thereof opposite stiffening flange 28.

The frame members 14 are assembled together with the tongue portions 22 overlapping and connected to the arm portion of an adjacent frame member to form the frames 12. A frame is mounted on each end of a rod 10 by inserting the end of the rod into the collar 16 with the hooks 38 extending inwardly along the axis of rod 10. The gripping tangs 32 dig into the rod 10 to prevent the frame from slipping off the rod. Fasteners 30 are inserted in portions 29 of flange 28 to further secure the frames to the rod. The assembled rack is then rotatably mounted on a trunnion (not shown) for winding the material onto the rack. As shown in FIG. 3, the selvedge of the fabric 40 is caught on the hooks 38 beginning with the hook nearest the rod 10, and is wound around the rod 10 engaging the hooks consequently outwardly from the rod to form a helix of substantially square convolutions. The length of rod 10 is so chosen that the fabric is maintained taut between the frames 12 by the hooks 38 and the convolutions of the fabric are held spaced from each other preventing the piles of the fabric from being crushed by the adjacent convolution.

The rack described above constitutes a self-contained, self-supporting unit which does not have to be mounted in a carton or box for storage. When the fabric reaches its destination, the rack and fabric can removed from the shipping car-ton or crate, and the fabric can remain on the rack since it does not depend upon the carton for support. Furthermore, the above described construction reduces the cost of production of the rack to such an extent that it is expandable and can be thrown away at the destination and need not be returned to the shipper.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a pair of frames designated generally by reference numeral 52 (only one being illustrated) are mounted on the opposite ends of a spacing tube 50 which preferably is contructed of fiberboard. Frame 52 includes four frame members 54 projecting outwardly from a hollow sleeve or collar 56, the collar being formed at the juncture of the frame members. Each frame member 54 includes an arm portion 58 and a collar or sleeve portion 60. Each collar portion is formed with tongue portions 62.

Collar portions 60 cooperate with each other to form the sleeve 56 having a polygonal cross-section. In the illustrated embodiment, each collar portion 60 includes three sides 60a of a twelve-sided polygon or dodecagon which has been found to be the most desirable configuration. Extending inwardly from the outer edge of the tubular sleeve 56 is a plurality of tabs 66 each having a pointed tang or barb formed on its free end. In the illustrated embodiment, a tab 66 projects from the outer end of the central plane or side 60a of each of the collar portions 60 to provide four tabs.

Formed along the outer edge of arms 58 is a stiffening flange 70, and additional stiffness may be provided for arm portions 58 by a stiffening bead 72 (FIG. 6). The ends of arms 58 are bent over to define a lip or foot 74 for supporting the rack on a horizontal floor. Each arm portion is formed along its edge opposite stiffening flange 70 with a series of hooks 76 which lie in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of tube 50 for supporting the fabric in the manner previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4.

Braces 78, which may be in the form of a flat bar, may be secured between the ends of adjacent arm portions as shown, in order to provide stability to the frame. Braces 78 are formed with reversely bent ends as shown at 82 which in turn are secured to the outer ends of arm portions 58 by rivets 80.

Spacing tube 50 has an outer diameter which is slightly greater than the maximum dimension of the inner wall of sleeve 56, i.e., the distance between the inner surfaces of opposite sides 60a, so that the end of the tube must be forced into the sleeve. After the end of the tube has been pressed into the sleeve as shown in FIG. 6, with the end of tube 50 abutting tabs 66, an air-operated conical plunger or mandrel enters the tube forcing it snugly against the inner wall of the polygonal sleeve and bending tabs 66 over the end of the tube to embed barbs 68 in the inner wall of the tube. Abutment portion 66a of tabs 66 cooperate with barbs 68 to interlock tube 50 and sleeve 56 and prevent relative axial movement between the members.

The foregoing construction increases the strength and stability of the mounting since the dodecagon sleeve tends to compress the tube inwardly to conform to the shape of the sleeve and the tube tends to expand the sleeve. Furthermore, the tube is prevented from rotating relative to the sleeve due to the configuration of the sleeve.

The entire frame 52 may be made up of stamped metal parts which can be quickly and easily assembled to provide an eflicient, economical construction.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the invention is not confined to the precise construction shown, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For a fabric rack including an elongated spacing member and a pair of frames mounted on opposite ends thereof, a frame having four frame members, each frame member including an arm portion, a collar portion extending angularly from one end of said arm portion, a

tongue portion extending angularly from said collar portion, a stiffening flange extending along the outer edges of said arm portion and said collar portion, a series of inwardly extending hooks formed on the edge of said arm portion opposite said stiffening flange, each tongue portion being connected with the end of the arm portion of an adjacent arm member, to form a continuous collar dimensioned to receive the spacing member, the portions of said stiffening flanges at said collar portions being dimensioned to abut the end of the spacing member.

2. A fabric rack comprising an elongate spacing rod and a pair of opposed frames mounted on the ends of said rod, each of said frames having four frame members, said frame members including an arm portion, a collar portion, and a tongue portion, said collar portion extending angularly from one end of said arm portion, said tongue portion extending angularly from said collar portion, a stiffening flange extending along the outer edge of said arm portion and collar portion, a series of inwardly directed hooks formed on the inner edge of said arm portion, each of said tongue members being connected to the end of an adjacent arm member to form a continuous collar receiving said rod, the portion of the stiffening flange along the edge of said collar portions abutting the end of said rod.

3. The construction defined in claim 2 further including inwardly directed gripping tangs formed on said collar portions engaging said rod member to thereby prevent relative axial movement of said frame members and said rod member.

4. A fabric rack including an elongated spacing member and a pair of frames mounted on the opposite ends thereof,

each frame having a plurality of frame members,

each frame member including an arm portion and a collar portion angularly projecting from said arm portion,

a tongue portion formed on each collar portion and projecting angularly therefrom,

a stiffening flange extending along the outer edge of said arm portion,

a series of inwardly extending hooks formed on the edge of said arm portion opposite said stiffening flange,

said tongue portions being connected with the end of the arm portion of an adjacent arm member to form a continuous collar receiving the spacing member,

and abutment members on said collar portions abutting the ends of the spacing member.

5. In a fabric rack,

a frame having a tubular sleeve of polygonal crosssection,

an elongate spacing tube of circular cross-section having one end received in said sleeve and formed into the general configuration of the inner Wall of said polygonal sleeve,

at least one pointed tab extending from the outer end of the sleeve having a barb thereon embedded in the inner wall of the tubular spacing member,

a plurality of arms projecting outwardly from said sleeve,

and a series of hooks formed on the edge of each of said arms in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve and spacing tube.

6. The construction defined in claim 5 in which said tubular sleeve is dodecagnol in cross-section.

7. A fabric rack including an elongated spacing member and a pair of frames mounted on opposite ends thereof,

each frame having a plurality of frame members,

each frame member including an arm portion, a collar portion extending angularly from one end of said arm portion and a tongue portion extending angularly from said collar portion,

said tongue portion being connected with the end of the arm portion of an adjacent arm member to form a collar embracing the spacing member,

a series of hooks formed along one edge of the arm portions,

a generally annular collar having a passage dimensioned to receive an elongated spacing member,

a plurality of arms projecting radially outwardly from circumferentially spaced portions of the periphery of stiffening flanges formed along the edges of a number 5 said collar,

of collar portions and abutting the opposite ends a series of longitudinally spaced hooks on each arm for of the spacing member, engaging end portions of fabric, and and means fastening said stiffening flanges to the ends said collar having a number of deformable tabs proof the spacing member. jecting radially inwardly at one side of said passage 8. Afabric rack comprising, 10 to abut one end of a hollow spacing member and an elongated spacing member, to be deformed into engagement with the interior a pair of frames mounted respectively on opposite ends surface of the spacing member.

of said spacing member, 11. The fabric rack as defined in claim 10 wherein each frame including a plurality of arms radially prosaid collar is formed from sheet metal and said tabs are jecting outwardly from said spacing member, integral with said collar,

a series of hooks formed on the arms for engaging fabric to be supported by the rack,

a collar portion formed on the inner end of each of said arms and angularly projecting therefrom,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS a tongue formed at one end of each collar portion and i -Q projecting angularly therefrom, 1969303 8/1934 Gaudr au each tongue being connected with the end of an ad- 2801784 8/1957 B1 tt 206 52 jacent arm to form a continuous collar receiving said 2955738 10/1960 g-e-t-z- 2O6"59 spacing member,

abutment members on said collar portions abutting the ichailster 1 ends of said spacing member, and e33 er means fastening said collars to the ends of said spacing FOREIGN PA member to prevent relative movement therebetween. 232 071 4/1925 G tB 9. A fabric rack as defined in claim 8 wherein said 486933 6/1938 ig; 333

collar portion and tongue of each arm are integral extensions of the arm.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 10. A fabnc rack frame comprising, 

8. A FABRIC RACK COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED SPACING MEMBER, A PAIR OF FRAMEES MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SPACING MEMBER, EACH FRAME INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ARMS RADIALLY PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID SPACING MEMBER A SERIES OF HOOKS FORMED ON THE ARMS FOR ENGAGING FABRIC TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE RACK, A COLLAR PORTION FORMED ON THE INNER END OF EACH OF SAID ARMS AND ANGULARLY PROJECTING THEREFROM, A TONGUE FORMED AT ONE END OF EACH COLLAR PORTION AND PROJECTING ANGULARLY THEREFROM, EACH TONGUE BEING CONNECTED WITH THE END OF AN ADJACENT ARM TO FORM A CONTINUOUS COLLAR RECEIVING SAID SPACING MEMBER, ABUTMENT MEMBERS ON SAID COLLAR PORTIONS ABUTTING THE ENDS OF SAID SPACING MEMBER, AND MEANS FASTENING SAID COLLAR TO THE ENDS OF SAID SPACING MEMBER TO PREVENT RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN. 